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Canon EOS 5D Mark 3 DSLR Camera
EOS 5D Mark III Support
FAQs & troubleshooting

Automatic Sensor Cleaning

Content Id: 8201093300


Solution

Caution

Icons used on this page

⋗: Setting button.

*The icons and markings indicating the camera’s buttons, dials, and settings correspond to the icons and markings on the camera and on the LCD monitor.

In the following cameras, whenever you turn the power to on or off, the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit is activated to automatically shake off the dust on the front of the sensor (CMOS).

EOS-1D X
EOS-1Ds Mark III
EOS-1D Mark IV
EOS-1D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark II
EOS 6D
EOS 7D Mark II
EOS 7D
EOS 70D
EOS 60Da
EOS 60D
EOS 50D
EOS 40D
EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D
EOS REBEL T4i/EOS 650D
EOS REBEL SL1/EOS 100D
EOS REBEL T3i/EOS 600D
EOS REBEL T2i/EOS 550D
EOS REBEL T1i/EOS 500D
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450D
EOS REBEL XS/EOS 1000D
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL
EOS M2
EOS M

Normally, you need not pay attention to this operation. However, you can run the sensor cleaning at any time by following the procedures below.

Caution

This section explains the procedures using the EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D. Depending on the model you are using, the content displayed on the LCD monitor might be slightly different from what is shown on your camera, but the procedure is almost the same.

1. Set the power to ⋖ON⋗.

2. Press the ⋖MENU⋗ button to bring up the menu display.

3. Under the [Set-up] tab, select [Sensor cleaning], then press the ⋖⋗ button.

The [Set-up] tab to be selected is different depending on the model. For details, please see the list below.

Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera

Model NameTab to be selected
EOS-1D X (Set-up 3)
EOS-1Ds Mark III (Set-up 3)
EOS-1D Mark IV (Set-up 3)
EOS-1D Mark III (Set-up 3)
EOS 5D Mark III (Set-up 3)
EOS 5D Mark II (Set-up 2)
EOS 6D (Set-up 4)
EOS 7D Mark II (Set-up 3)
EOS 7D (Set-up 2)
EOS 70D (Set-up 4)
EOS 60Da (Set-up 2)
EOS 60D (Set-up 2)
EOS 50D (Set-up 2)
EOS 40D (Set-up 2)
EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D (Set-up 3)
EOS REBEL T4i/EOS 650D (Set-up 3)
EOS REBEL SL1/EOS 100D (Set-up 3)
EOS REBEL T3i/EOS 600D (Set-up 2)
EOS REBEL T2i/EOS 550D (Set-up 2)
EOS REBEL T1i/EOS 500D(Set-up 2)
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi/EOS 450D(Set-up 2)
EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL Select (Set-up 2), [Sensor cleaning:Auto], then press the <> button.
EOS REBEL XS/EOS 1000D (Set-up 2)

Interchangeable-Lens Compact System Camera

Model NameTab to be selected
EOS M2 (Set-up 3)
EOS M (Set-up 3)

4. The screen below will appear. Select [Clean now], then press the ⋖⋗ button. For EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL, go to step 5.

5. Select [OK], then press the ⋖⋗ button.

The screen will indicate that the sensor is being cleaned. Although there will be a shutter sound, a picture is not taken.

For EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi/EOS 400D DIGITAL, select [Clean now] then press the ⋖⋗ button.

Caution

For best results, do the sensor cleaning while the camera bottom is placed on a table or other flat surface.
Even if you repeat the sensor cleaning, the result will not improve that much. Right after the sensor cleaning is finished, the [Clean now] option will remain disabled temporarily.

If there is dirt or dust that cannot be removed by following the procedure above, please see Manual Sensor Cleaning(Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera) or Manual Sensor Cleaning(Interchangeable-Lens Compact System Camera).

Caution

Normally, the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit will eliminate most of the dust that might be visible on captured images. However, in case visible dust still remains, you can append the Dust Delete Data to the image for erasing the dust spots later. The Dust Delete Data is used by Digital Photo Professional (provided software*) to erase the dust spots automatically.
For details about dust delete data, refer to the instruction manuals that came with your camera. For Automatic Dust Erasure Processing using Dust Delete Data, refer to the Software Instruction Manual for Digital Photo Professional (included on the CD-ROM) that came with your camera.*

*If the abovementioned items (Digital Photo Professional software/Instruction Manuals) were not included with you camera, please download them from the Canon homepage.

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